South Carolina's aging population deserves attention

South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Glenn McConnell fired off some eye-opening statistics last week at the Duke Energy retirees quarterly luncheon.

McConnell’s speech centered on the aging population of the state and what a poor job we are doing of making their lives comfortable.

South Carolina is a mecca for retirees, and we are proud of that. Many people choose to spend their final years in our moderate climate — either in the foothills here or along the beaches. Some, who don’t initially retire here, end up here after giving Florida and other states a try — they are affectionately called “half-backs” because they move halfway back to their homes in the east and north.

Group those retirees with the state’s own elderly population and you have a lot of people who will spend their Social Security years in the Palmetto State.

We’re happy to have these retirees, but with them comes a responsibility that the state has done a poor job dealing with.

According to McConnell:

• There are 912,429 seniors age 60 or older in South Carolina.

• By 2030 there will be 1.8 million people over age 60 in the state.

• 11.5 percent of those over age 60 live in poverty.

• One in 11 seniors are at risk of hunger.

• There are 1.3 million baby boomers in the state who will retire very soon.

• A third of South Carolina’s elderly live on Social Security payments alone.

We have to ask ourselves if we are doing all we can to help these people live a respectful life in their golden years.

A great majority of these older adults worked hard their whole life. They paid taxes that provided assistance to others who were out or work or living in poverty. Now, it’s their turn.

As McConnell pointed out, “they are not looking for handouts, they’re looking for helping hands.”

The number of nursing home beds in the state is declining even though 25 percent of those over age 85 need institutional care.

McConnell said there is a waiting list of 8,000 seniors today who need a meal. They also need home care services to allow them to stay in their homes and not go to a nursing home. Those who can no longer drive need transportation to doctor’s visits and the grocery store.

McConnell pointed out that assisting elderly people to be self-sufficient is cost effective for the state. It certainly is cheaper for them to live in their own home and cook their own meals than providing 24-hour care.

The Aging Network, funded by the Lieutenant Governor’s Office on Aging and the Regional Aging and Disability Resource Center, consists of agencies in the state that provide adult day care services, disease prevention, insurance counseling, legal assistance and respite services for caregivers.

McConnell requested $5 million from the Legislature for the current budget but was given only $1 million.

We feel our seniors are worth more than that. We cannot abandon them in their final years but help them live with dignity and in as much comfort as reasonably possible. South Carolina owes them that much.